Coast Guard reports busy weekend on the water

New York - Coast Guard crews from the New London station turned back three recreational boaters over the weekend for safety violations, according to a Coast Guard statement.

A boarding officer from Coast Guard Station New London, on three different occasions, “terminated the voyage of a recreational boater,” because of a failed vessel safety examination. One boat had no life jackets and no sound signaling devices, another had insufficient sound signaling devices and the third had insufficient sound signaling devices and the was not equipped with the required throwable flotation device.

The enforcement activities came amid a busy weekend along the Connecticut coast, which included the rescue of three boaters by a good Samaritan from a capsized vessel near Raritan Bay, N.J., on Saturday. The Good Samaritan transported the boaters to Keyport Harbor, N.J., where they were evaluated by emergency medical services and released, the Coast Guard said. The owner is making arrangements for the vessel to be salvaged.

In another case, a boarding officer from Coast Guard Station Fire Island, N.Y., stopped a vessel on which some passengers were cited for underage drinking and operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance. The vessel was brought back to a local marina and the operator's parents were contacted to pick up the vessel, the Coast Guard said.

“Practicing proper boating safety is important for every vessel on the water,” said Lt. Alfred Betts, the command duty officer at Sector New York in a written statement.

“Knowing the type of gear needed for your vessel and how to safely operate it is the responsibility of everyone aboard. By ensuring that you and your passengers know where your equipment is located on the vessel, how to use it and the condition it is in, you will be better prepared for situations that can occur during an outing on your vessel, ” he said.